Статья посвящена рассмотрению специфики такого преступления как угроза убийством или причинением тяжкого вреда здоровью. В статье рассматривается правовая природа угрозы данного правонарушения. Автором анализируются отличия такого рода преступления от других, а также ответственность, предусмотренная Уголовным Кодексом Российской Федерации за него. В работе исследованы и приведены социальные последствия угрозы убийством или причинением тяжкого вреда здоровью для личности и общества в целом.

Ключевые слова: преступление, угроза, виновный и потерпевший, умысел, квалифицирующие признаки.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation enshrines the right to life, and any violation of this supreme social value is punishable. Individuals receiving threats of death or harm often experience tension, anxiety, and helplessness. At the societal level, such acts create an unhealthy atmosphere, undermine trust, and create a sense of instability. In some cases, they become a harbinger of further violence if the perpetrator fails to receive an appropriate response from law enforcement [1, Article 20].

The criminal prohibition enshrined in Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as the CCRF) is aimed at preventing not only actual violent acts but also the attacks that precede them, creating a real expectation of inevitable harm in the victim. The legislator proceeds from the premise that the very creation of such a situation requires a criminal assessment, regardless of whether any subsequent violent acts are committed [2, Article 119].

The object of the offense in question is the social relations that ensure the protection of the life and physical integrity of each individual. The essence of the objective aspect of the crime consists of conveying to the addressee the intent to take his life or cause him grievous bodily harm in such a way that the latter develops a justified belief in the reality of the stated intentions [4, p. 331].

Only a natural person of sound mind who has reached the age of sixteen can be considered guilty (i.e., the subject of a crime under Part 1 of Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The subjective aspect is characterized by direct intent: the person is aware that their behavior is perceived by the addressee as a real possibility of violence [3, p. 7].

A message of readiness to use extreme violence can be conveyed verbally, through written messages, telephone conversations, audio and video recordings, images, and even through the display of weapons or other objects associated with an attack. However, it is not the form of expression itself that has criminal significance, but the combination of circumstances under which it is perceived by the recipient as genuinely dangerous.

Penalties for such actions vary depending on the circumstances of their commission. In situations involving a single expression of intent to kill or cause serious bodily harm, the law limits penalties to relatively lenient ones: mandatory or forced labor, restriction of liberty, arrest, or imprisonment for relatively short periods (Part 1 of Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). However, in the presence of aggravating factors—targeting multiple individuals, political, national, racial, or religious hatred—significantly more stringent measures are provided (Part 2 of Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). This design is intended to take into account the heightened social danger of acts committed on the basis of hostility or against particularly vulnerable categories of victims [5, p. 73].

The practical classification of these attacks presents a number of difficulties, primarily in distinguishing between Article 119 of the Russian Criminal Code and related crimes. Unlike preparation for murder, where the individual already takes concrete steps toward taking life (acquiring a weapon, planning an attack, etc.), in this case, there is often no real intent to carry out the stated plan, and the key factor is the impact on the victim's psyche. This act also does not coincide with torture (Article 117 of the Russian Criminal Code), which involves the systematic infliction of physical or mental suffering through prolonged exposure.

Effectively combating such attacks requires a comprehensive approach combining law enforcement, preventative measures, and social and psychological interventions. Timely and professional investigation of incoming complaints, a proper legal assessment of the offense, and the inevitability of bringing those responsible to justice are crucial. Equally important is educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities, developing skills for responding appropriately to such situations, and developing psychological support services for victims.

1. The Constitution of the Russian Federation (adopted by popular vote on December 12, 1993) // SPS ConsultantPlus [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_ doc_LAW_28399/.
2. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of June 13, 1996, No. 63-FZ // SPS ConsultantPlus [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_10699/.
3. Bavsun, M. V. Qualification of crimes based on the subjective element: textbook for universities / M. V. Bavsun, S. V. Veklenko. — 2nd ed., corrected. and add. — Moscow: Yurait Publishing House, 2026. — 143 p.
4. Shigabetdinova, V. M. Problems of Qualifying a Threat of Murder of an Indefinite Nature / V. M. Shigabetdinova. — Text: direct // Young Scientist. — 2023. — No. 24 (471). — Pp. 331–333.
5. Shutova, Yu. A. Threat of Murder or Causing Serious Harm to Health: Problems of Law Enforcement and Ways to Overcome Them // Legal Studies. — 2024. — No. 1. — Pp. 73–83.